Newbiggin Boxing Day dip

What: Boxing Day dip

When: 11am, Tuesday December 26, 2017

Where: Newbiggin, from the promenade adjacent Bridge Street

More information: Anyone interested in taking part can obtain a registration form from Newbiggin Lifeboat Station any Sunday between 10am and 1pm otherwise they will be available on the day of the dip at 10.30am both in the Lifeboat House and on the promenade adjacent Bridge Street.

Sponsorship forms to raise funds for the RNLI are also available in the lifeboat station - BUT also, anyone wishing to raise money for their own chosen charity is encouraged to join us at the Boxing Day Dip.

Further information is available on Sunday mornings from the Lifeboat Station or call 01670 817320.

Elf school in session in Ouseburn

What: Elf school

When: Thursday 14th and Saturday 16th December.

Where: Ouseburn Farm

More information: “Here at Ouseburn Farm we’ve launched a host of activities for the kids in the lead up to the big day. We’re giving children the opportunity to learn how to become an elf. Your little ones will set off on their first day of school in the hunt for elf houses which are secretly located throughout the farm. They’ll also learn a special Christmas dance routine, which only the elves know, plus they’ll get to decorate Santa’s cookies, be entered into the Elf Hall of Fame before taking a virtual sleigh ride to meet the main man himself; Santa Claus.”

To pack your child off to elf school, you are required to book their place via the Ouseburn Farm website at www.ouseburnfarm.org.uk/whatson where you can select your preferred day and time.

“Tickets cost £7.50 per child, so why not make a day of it and visit all the animals, gardens and orchard? Don’t forget to pay a visit to the on site café too which serves coffee and fresh food that has been produced with ingredients directly from the farm.”

Ashington Christmas Lights Switch-On

Ashington Christmas lights switch on (Image: UGC TNE)

Ashington’s Christmas Lights Switch-On took place on Friday 1st December.

The event included musical performances from local school choirs including Bothal Primary and Thomas Bewick as well as swing singer Paul Skerritt provided a mix of classic and new Christmas songs. Father Christmas found time to visit Ashington as part of his busy Christmas schedule and Olaf and Anna from Frozen came along as well as the Snow Queen on stilts!

Ashington Town Council works closely with local schools to provide an annual competition for Ashington schoolchildren to design new Christmas lighting features. This year five new features are displayed on Station Road, close to the Christmas Tree, designed by local children. The five winners are Chloe Olivia Smith (Josephine Butler Campus), Sophie Nessworthy (Ashington Academy), Tom Wakeman and Scarlett Brannigan (Bothal Upper School) and Alex Coyle (Bothal Lower School).

The Switch-On was hosted by well-known BBC TV Presenter Colin Briggs. The five children who won the competition were interviewed by Colin before leading the countdown to the Switch-On.

A Christmas-themed market also took place with a wide range of stalls as well as fairground rides and face painting.

The event was organised by Ashington Town Council with support from Northumberland YMCA, Northern Funfairs, Bad Apples North East, local schools and BBC Newcastle. The Town Council thank everyone who assisted with the event.

Ashington Male Voice Choir hosts Christmas concert

Christmas came early to St’ John’s Church, Seaton Hirst, when Ashington District Male Voice Choir staged its Christmas concert on 9th December. A large audience were entertained with a variety of Christmas and traditional choral music as well as having the opportunity to join in some of the carols.

Choir chairman Robert Brind said: "This year’s guest performer was the choir’s musical director, Jonathan Shaw, who sang a section of songs in each half. This was special as Jonathan was starting his final week as the choir’s director. A true loss to the Arts.

"The evening’s varied programme included songs of local significance with pieces written by the partnership of Mike Kirkup and Derek Hobbs and a couple of carols set to arrangements by former musical director Neil Morton. Other pieces featured music by Giuseppe Verde, Anderson/Ulvaeus (Abba) and Oscar Hammerstein. A programme of many styles. The choir performed to its usual high standard and was able to introduce some newer members to their first major concert. Hopefully more newcomers will be attracted and also a new musical director can be encouraged to join the gentlemen."

Students launch film company in Birtley

More information: “My name is Lucy Wilson-Green and I and some other students are launching our film company in January. We are hosting an event where we will be showcasing our first film under the name of ‘Cool Girl Pictures’.”

North Shields Victorian Christmas Market is a success

Over 30,000 people descended on North Shields for the town’s annual Victorian Christmas Market.

Organised by North Tyneside Council, visitors browsed over 100 stalls, selling all manner of festive food, drink and crafts, over the weekend.

A service from local churches, with musical support from the Salvation Army band, got the weekend underway and traditional entertainment followed from local schoolchildren singing Christmas carols on the bandstand.

Stallholders and volunteers donned Victorian clothing for the weekend and the Customer First Centre and Beacon Centre got involved with free festive activities.

Coun Eddie Darke, cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism said, “As always, it was a great turnout and I’d like to thank everyone for coming, especially all of the stallholders who braved the cold temperatures and the bandstand choirs for such excellent performances.

The market is part of our wonderful Winter Festival, which has seen many fantastic events take place across the festive season, and we now look forward to more exciting activities in 2018.”

A range of hot street food traders also proved popular with visitors over the weekend, who were able to sample wood-fired pizza, handmade burgers, hog roast, Bangladeshi dishes and churros.

The event, which is supported by Kier North Tyneside, the Beacon Centre and North Shields Chamber of Trade, will return next year, on December 8 and 9, for its 20th anniversary.

South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust’s Christmas carol service

What: Carol service

When: 7pm, Wednesday, December 20.

Where: Alexander’s restaurant, at South Tyneside District Hospital

More information: Music will be provided by the Westoe Brass Band and the local Salvation Army Songsters. People will also be able to pay a poignant tribute to their loved ones by leaving messages on a special memorial tree. Everyone is welcome to stay for refreshments afterwards.

Jesmond Christmas tree lights up

On December 7, 2017 the Jesmond Residents' Association Christmas tree was lit up on Acorn Road & St George's Church in Jesmond celebrating Christmas. The lighting up of St George's Church in Osborne Road, the Christmas tree lights and fireworks display were all made possible by the Watson Family Charitable Trust.

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